AFSCME joined several other national groups today in urging U.S. senators to protect hard-working Americans and vote against a resolution calling for a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“A constitutional balanced budget amendment would eviscerate vital programs and services including programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, veterans’ benefits, homeland security, law enforcement and many other programs that have directly helped millions of Americans and prevented a weak economy from becoming worse,” AFSCME wrote in a statement submitted to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution. “The balanced budget requirement would also be particularly devastating for the most vulnerable Americans, those who already suffered the greatest from a weak economy and job losses.”

The Senate subcommittee is considering H.J. Res. 2: Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The measure was narrowly defeated earlier in the week in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 261 to 165, just shy of the 284 votes supporters needed for passage.

AFSCME is the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO. Our 1.6 million members provide the vital services that make America happen. AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services and prosperity and opportunity for all working families.